#home-safety

#home-safety

Kenneth Johnson first noticed signs of an uninvited guest living under his Altadena home earlier this year. In April, Johnson saw that bricks around his home's crawl space were torn out, and the wooden frame covering the crawl space was broken. After spotting more damage in June, he installed a camera. Last week, the 63-year-old finally identified the culprit: a bear had moved in and made a home underneath Johnson's abode.

The garage in their Pontiac home was filled with food, much of it perishable. Animals got into it. Summer arrived. The toxic smell of rotted food was inescapable. Uhle hoped someone would intervene, but no one did. Had her parents lived elsewhere, perhaps the story would have ended differently. Gleason and colleagues (2021) address this dilemma directly in "Managing hoarding and squalor," noting that general practitioners often play a key role in recognizing and managing these situations before they become dangerous.

Few things ruin a night of sleep faster than waking up to pee in the middle of the night and turning on the blinding overhead light in your bathroom, jolting you awake and making it nearly impossible to fall back asleep once you're done. The same can be said for having to turn on the hallway light so you don't fall down the stairs in the dark when all you want is a midnight snack.

While dishwasher pods seem like a time-saving alternative to powder or liquid detergents, they may actually be causing more harm than good. Not only are pods not as eco-friendly or environmentally safe as other types of dishwasher detergents, but they can also pose a health and safety risk if you have curious children or pets in your home. Plus, even the best dishwasher pods can potentially leave residue or gunk on your dishwasher and dishes.

Several small rugs need securing, and safety rails need to be installed in two of the showers. Two bathtubs are no longer being used because of the inability to egress without some type of assistance. There is also no handrail on the basement steps. My husband says it is no big deal to fix these issues, while I say it is a big deal that is crucial to aging in place and must be addressed immediately.

Security cameras are becoming more popular and affordable, and their effectiveness can be enhanced by mindful placement, avoiding obstructions like trees or furniture.

The Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera is available for $60, a 54% discount and the lowest price we've seen yet.

Extension cords are designed to run power to electronics, but they have limits based on wire gauge. Overloading them with high-demand appliances can lead to fires.

Dubliner Elaine O'Reilly discovered her ideal home in Rathfarnham was uniquely flexible thanks to a boutique developer catering to the needs of families.

Smart security devices are revolutionizing home and office protection, enabling remote monitoring and control, offering faster responses and greater peace of mind.

Cleaning the oven can be a dreaded household chore, often taking much longer than anticipated due to tough stains. A lifestyle group has suggested a simple hack for easier cleaning.